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Kinnow fruit is considered the most healthy among all citrus fruits. It is grown widely in Pakistan-occupied Punjab area and India. It’s a cross between two citrus cultivars: Willow Leaf (Citrus x deliciosa) and King (Citrus nobilis). Kinnow contains approximately 2.5 times more calcium than any other citrus fruit. Doctors and physicians advise eating one kinnow to strengthen bones. Kinnows are good for heart health too. They can reduce acidic substances and give us relief from heartburn. They also help in balancing cholesterol levels in our bodies.
What is kinnow fruit?
Kinnow is also known as Kinoo or Kinu in different countries. This fruit is a mutant form of mandarin and a hybrid version of two different fruits from the same family tree – ‘King’ and ‘Willow Leaf’. Kinnow fruit is considered juicier than typical oranges. Kinnows are cultivated in various parts of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Pakistan. The hybridisation of oranges was done in 1935 by HB Frost to produce kinnow fruit.
Is kinnow similar to orange?
Many people feel confused while purchasing this fruit. Oranges and kinnows have the same colour and nutritional content. These two belong to the same citrus family and are available in the winter season. Among several types of oranges, kinnow, Coorg mandarin, Khasi mandarin, Nagpur orange, and Darjeeling orange are the most common ones. But there are some differences between them.
Biological difference between kinnows and oranges
Orange is considered a close relative of kinnow fruit. Even though orange and kinnow share the same family tree, still they are quite different from one another. Orange is produced by the hybridisation of citrus reticulata and citrus maxima. Kinnow, on the other hand, is a hybridisation of citrus delicious and citrus nobilis.
Colour of these fruits
An orange is slightly saffron, and it can also come in light orange shades whereas a kinnow is available in a slightly darker shade. Kinnows are sometimes available in fresh orange colour with a light yellow shade.
Skin or outer layer
Kinnows are darker in the shade due to their hard or thicker peels. They are a little stiff and prone to sunlight. On the other hand, oranges have delicate skin, which is easy to peel, and are more prone to sunburn.
Cost of these fruits
Kinnows are perceived to be inexpensive as opposed to oranges, as they have a rich harvest. Moreover, kinnows have extra seeds than oranges, which makes oranges more expensive than the former.
Taste of kinnows and oranges
They differ a lot in flavour. Kinnow has an extra sour flavour, but it is juicier than orange, which is sweet.
Cultivation of citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are cultivated in large numbers in India after bananas and mangoes. Other orange breeds cover mausami, pineapple, blood red and jaffa. Citrus fruits such as kinnows can be cultivated in various soils such as loamy soil or alluvial soil.
These fruits can grow in light soil and in good drainage conditions. Among all these citrus fruits, kinnow mandarin is cultivated on a wider scale. The farming of these fruits is done in various states such as Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Physiochemical | Quantity /100 gm |
Average Vitamin C (mg/100ml juice) | 31.0 |
Iron (mg/ 100 ml) | 0.4 |
Phosphorus (mg/ 100 ml) | 18.0 |
Calcium (mg/ 100 ml) | 40.0 |
Average Acidity (%) | 12.0 – 14.0 :1 |
Average TSS (%) | 11.5 |
Average acidity ( %) | 0.9 |
Conclusion
Kinnows and oranges do look alike, and their similarities are quite uncanny. Some people eat kinnows, and many love oranges as both these citrus fruits are excellent sources of vitamin C. There are tons of vitamin C benefits apart from acting as an anti-ageing ingredient. Kinnows have various health benefits. It can be consumed as juices also. In this article, we learnt about the kinnow fruit and why it is similar to orange.
